eagerness
UK[ˈiːɡənəs]US[ˈiːɡərnəs]
n
A strong feeling of wanting to have or do something.
n
The quality of being very interested in and excited about something.
Morpheme Breakdown
eager
ness
eager
ness
Etymology
The word 'eagerness' is built upon the adjective 'eager', which entered English from the Anglo-French egre, meaning sharp or sour. This traces back to the Latin acer (sharp, keen, fierce), a term with Proto-Indo-European roots in h₂eḱ- (sharp). The original sense of sharpness evolved metaphorically to describe an acute or piercing intensity of desire or spirit. The suffix '-ness', of Germanic origin, is then appended to convert this qualitative state of being keenly desirous into an abstract noun, formally naming the condition of fervent enthusiasm or impatient longing.
Analysis
Structure: eager + ness
- eager: From Latin acer (sharp, keen) via Anglo-French egre. Functions as the core adjective meaning keen or ardent.
- ness: From Old English -nes(s), a noun-forming suffix indicating a state, quality, or condition.
Examples
She accepted the job offer with great eagerness.
His eagerness to please sometimes made him seem anxious.
The team's eagerness was evident in their rapid preparation for the project.